18 Aug 2026
Better Together: Team-Based Joint Replacement
For patient referrals: call 970-810-0255How has joint replacement evolved from a multi-day hospital stay to a procedure that can often have patients recovering at home the same day? In this episode of Beyond the Rounds, Dr. Kirk Kindsfater and physician assistant Nate Hawkins, PA-C, join Dr. Nolan Fisher to discuss the evolution of hip and knee replacement—from advances in implant materials and surgical techniques to rapid-recovery protocols and the role of an experienced, highly coordinated care team.Drawing on more than three decades of experience and more than 33,000 joint replacements, Dr. Kindsfater shares how advances in implant technology, alignment tools and surgical techniques have changed arthroplasty while emphasizing the importance of experience, physical examination and foundational surgical skills. Hawkins offers the perspective of a longtime physician assistant, exploring how patient education, expectation setting and a team-based approach contribute to care before, during and after surgery.The conversation also examines how modern pain management and mobilization protocols are helping appropriate patients return home sooner, how surgeons evaluate new technologies such as robotics, and why choosing the right approach for each patient remains more important than following the latest trend.What We Cover• How hip and knee replacement has evolved over the past 30 years• Advances in implant materials and longevity• Rapid-recovery protocols and outpatient joint replacement• Patient selection and setting realistic expectations before surgery• The role of physician assistants in pre- and postoperative care• How an experienced surgical team supports efficiency and consistent outcomes• Technology, alignment and robotics in joint replacement• Why soft-tissue balancing remains critical in knee replacement• Anterior versus posterior approaches to hip replacement• Returning active patients to walking, hiking, golf, tennis and other activities• Evaluating new techniques while maintaining strong surgical fundamentals• The evolving role of physician assistants in improving access to orthopedic careKey Topics for Clinicians• Total joint replacement• Hip replacement• Knee replacement• Arthroplasty• Osteoarthritis• Rapid recovery• Outpatient joint replacement• Implant technology• Surgical alignment• Robotics in orthopedic surgery• Soft-tissue balancing• Anterior hip replacement• Posterior hip replacement• Multimodal pain management• Patient selection• Patient education• Physician assistants• Orthopedic care teamsAbout Our GuestsDr. Kirk Kindsfater is an internationally recognized orthopedic surgeon with more than 30 years of experience in hip and knee replacement. With a background in mechanical engineering, he brings an engineering perspective to joint mechanics, implant design and surgical technique and has performed more than 33,000 joint replacements during his career.Nate Hawkins, PA-C, is a physician assistant with more than 20 years of experience and a background in athletic training. He has worked alongside Dr. Kindsfater for approximately a decade, helping manage patients throughout the joint replacement journey, from evaluation and preoperative education through postoperative recovery.How to Refer a PatientFor patient referrals or to schedule an evaluation, call 970-810-0255.DisclaimerThis podcast is intended for educational purposes only and is designed for a clinical audience. Any patient scenarios discussed are modified and de-identified to protect privacy. No protected health information (PHI) is disclosed. The information presented should not replace independent medical judgment or individualized patient care decisions.Subscribe to Beyond the Rounds for physician-focused conversations on clinical innovation, specialty collaboration and evolving standards of care.
